Online Pharmacies are not legal in most civilized countries. There are very good reasons why this is so and it is not just a case of “control” or of big brother keeping an eye on you. Here are just a few reasons why online pharmacies in general can be bad for your health. I will return specifically to Viagra later.

? Most prescription medications need the input of a health care profession if they are not to be amused. Often, simple lifestyle changes can render the use of medications obsolete. However, lifestyle change requires human effort. It is so much easier to buy online than it is for example to loose weight, take more exercise or stop smoking.

? Prescription medications need to be taken in the proper dose and in a prescribed manner. Otherwise, they are open to abuse and can be damaging or addictive. Sleeping tablets are a good example of harmful medication when not controlled. Online Pharmacies offer no such control.

? Online pharmacies are uncontrolled and uncontrollable. Therefore no assurances can be given that product is in fact what it says it is on the package. Generic or worse still, totally fake tablets or capsules can be dispensed. You simply have no way of knowing what is or is not what you hope it is.

? But even more worrying than this is the possibility of lethal contamination. There are on record cases of where active ingredient or excipients have, wittingly or unwittingly, found their way into spurious pharmaceutical products with fatal consequences.

These serious reservations apply to all medications purchased from Online Pharmacies. However, in the case of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction treatments, there are additional pitfall and dangers that are particularly worrying. I can only touch on a few of these here but this should give you an idea:

? Viagra is now the biggest selling online pharmaceutical in the world.

? Not all, or even most, erectile dysfunction requires Viagra to fix it.

? Viagra is now widely used as a ‘recreational drug’ in the mistaken belief that it improves erections where no dysfunction exists. If it were not for internet selling this situation would not have evolved.

? Taken in this way Viagra can actually CAUSE erectile dysfunction by allowing for a ‘performance anxiety’ situation to develop. Performance anxiety is the commonest cause of erectile dysfunction that there is.

? Much erectile dysfunction is not in fact fixt by using Viagra or Cialis. However, the self-medicating may not realize this and be inappropriately driven to depths of despair when these drugs fail to work. I see this all the time in my practice.

Normally I am all in favor of patient’s autonomy and of people taking charge of their own illnesses. I am not in principle opposed to sensible self-medicating and self-care. People cannot go running to their doctor or drugstore with every little sniffle and sneeze. Indeed, I once argued for the free availability of the “morning after” pill as a means of reducing abortion demand. But Online Pharmacies? I think not and I hope that after reading this you might agree with me.

Alternative treatments of diabetes are currently being researched in many countries around the world. There is research being done on natural substances that help alleviate many of the symptoms of Type-2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease where the body is not able to metabolize glucose in the blood. Type-1 diabetes is caused by the damage of Beta islet cells located in the pancreas. When working properly these cells usually secrete insulin but for people with Type-1 diabetes these cells are not working. Type-1 diabetics will need to be on insulin therapy for the rest of their lives. Type-2 diabetes is cause by the destruction of insulin receptors on cell surfaces which causes the cells to be resistant to insulin. Type-2 diabetes can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication and in some cases with lifestyle changes alone. There are also many alternative or natural substances that can help alleviate symptoms and control blood glucose levels for Type-2 diabetes.

Currently studies are being conducted on many herbs that have been used for centuries to treat diabetic symptoms. There are several Amazon jungle root herbs with reported abilities to lower blood glucose levels, normalize the frequency of urination, and eradicate glucose in the urine of diabetic patients. In Brazil, the Pfaffia root has been used for decades to treat the symptoms of diabetes. Pata-de-vaca is also widely used in Brazil for the treatment of diabetes.

One doctor in China has studied the results of goji berry on the blood of thousands of patients. This doctor theorizes that the goji berry makes the patients blood more alkaline. He has reported that as the alkalinity changes, there is a turnaround of all illnesses. His claim is that this reversal includes diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, renal failure, high cholesterol, arthritis and other illnesses associated with physical or mental problems, including attention deficit disorder.

Another research program currently in China has diabetics drinking a tea made from the goji berry. Results show that up to 62 percent of subjects showed decrease in blood glucose levels and over half of the patients being able to control blood sugar levels with diet alone. Goji helps with the release of oxygen to the cells with an enzyme named 23BPG. This seems to help reduce the symptoms caused by the narrowing of blood vessels in the legs, eyes and other areas in the body of diabetics.

Another natural substance that is being studied is cocoa. A study conducted in Germany showed cocoa with high flavanol improves cardiovascular health. The study was specifically to test the effectiveness of the cocoa with long term use. 41 stable Type-2 diabetics were given cocoa with high dose flavanol in comparison with low flavanol dosage cocoa. During the study, the researchers did find that the flavanol found in cocoa did have a positive effect on FMD response in diabetics. Researchers concluded that these results happened by increased production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a chemical that sends signals to arteries to relax and widen in response to increased blood flow. This relaxation of the arteries takes stress off the heart and blood vessels.

Alternative treatments of diabetes are currently being researched in many countries around the world. There is research being done on natural substances that help alleviate many of the symptoms of Type-2 diabetes.

Restless Leg Syndrome medications (prescription of course) can be a tricky subject. We have tried all the self-help, lifestyle changes, and underlying cause remedies that we can. The symptoms still exist, sometimes continually throughout the day and night. Your condition has been evaluated as severe or very severe because there is much pain associated with the other bothersome symptoms of RLS. Now is the time to allow your physician to prescribe a medication for you.

There is a wide variety of medications for RLS which is why the world famous ‘trial and error’ process will need to take place. Your own individual type of RLS may not respond or you may have side effects from some medications. In condensed form, here is a list of prescription drugs used to treat RLS:

Dopaminergic Agents

Considered first-line therapies since they typically alleviate all major features associated with RLS. Dopaminergic agents have an inhibitory effect on abnormal movements by enhancing levels of the neurotransmitterdopamine, a naturally produced chemical that regulates the delivery of messages between nerve cells (neurons) in the central nervous system. Such medications include bromocriptine mesylate (Parlodel )and pramipexole dihydrochloride (Mirapex ) and ropinirole hydrochloride (Requip ).

Dopamine Precursors

Known as Carbidopa/levodopa is used to control movement in Parkinson’s patients. This combination is available as Sinemet .

Nonergotoline Dopamine Agonists and Other Medications

Best known by advertisements are ropinirole (Requip ) and pramipexole (Mirapex ).

Benzodiazepines

Interferes with chemical activity in the nervous system and brain, reduces communication between nerve cells. The benzodiazepine clonazepam (Klonopin ) is often prescribed for the treatment of RLS. Other benzodiazepines that may be recommended as appropriate, suitable alternatives include temazepam (Restoril ), diazepam (Valium ), and triazolam (Halcion ).

Opioids

Are natural or artificially produced (synthetic) chemicals that produce opium-like (opiate-like) effects. Opioid agents vary greatly in potency, ranging from mild to strong. Low-potency opioid agents may have beneficial results without risk of addiction, physicians may consider prescribing opioid agents such as propoxyphene hydrochloride (Darvon ) or codeine in patients with mild, periodic symptoms. The use of higher potency opioid agents such as oxycodone hydrochloride (Percocet or Roxicodone ) or methadone hydrochloride should be reserved for those patients with severe RLS who have not responded to other appropriate medications.

Anticonvulsants

Is used to help manage or prevent episodes of abnormally increased electrical activity in the brain (seizures). Anticonvulsants may help relieve some symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome.carbamazepine (Tegretol ), a medication that reduces synaptic transmission, has been shown to decrease restlessness, sensory abnormalities, and sleep disturbances. However, it is thought that the medication may be less effective in reducing associated involuntary movements.

Gabapentin (Neurontin ) has shown promise as a potential treatment for individuals with RLS. Gabapentin seems to be most effective in those with mild or moderate RLS who experience actual leg pain. Alternatives including valproate (Depakene ), a medication derived from carboxylic acid, or lamotrigine (Lamictal ).

Other Medications

Clonidine hydrochloride (Catapres ) may alleviate leg discomfort and sleep difficulties in some people with RLS; but the medication may not be effective in reducing associated involuntary movements.

Additional Drug Treatments

Medications thought to relieve RLS symptoms, such as baclofen (Lioresal ), a muscle relaxant that is thought to block nerve activity in the spinal cord has been reported to control symptoms. No controlled studies have been evaluated on these medications as of yet. Large-scale clinical trials would be helpful in evaluating the use of such medications and assessing their long-term safety and effectiveness in the treatment of patients with restless legs syndrome.

Be aware that all of these Restless Leg Syndrome medications do come with side effects. The extent and duration of the side effects totally depends on which drug, which combination, and what dosage is given. Is it worth the agony to be on the medication That will depend on how you react and how severe the impact of these medications and your Restless Leg Syndrome.

Chances are that you will need to try different medications and cross off your list the ones that don’t seem to work. Maybe even combinations of these medications. The best advice to handle this situation is to keep a journal documenting the prescriptions along with how you respond to these drugs. This is something that your physician will appreciate in adjusting or changing your medication.